Frontera Grill/Topolobampo445 N. Clark St. 312-661-1434Mexican cuisine king Rick Bayless presides over these sibling restaurants that share an entrance and bar; Topolo skews toward fine dining, while Frontera is more rustic and regional. For a taste of Bayless' expert flavors with less of a time commitment, get in line at no-reservations street food cafe Xoco (449 N. Clark St. 312-334-3688) for tortas (sandwiches) and caldos (soups) plus seriously tasty churros. All three restaurants serve a killer margarita.

Sable Kitchen & Bar505 N. State St. 312-755-9704"Top Chef: Texas" cast member Heather Terhune cooks comforting New American fare at this sleek bar and restaurant inside the Hotel Palomar. Shareable plates such as bacon jam-slathered baguette or truffle deviled eggs work just as well ordered alongside a cocktail or shared among friends as part of a full feast.

Graham Elliot217 W. Huron St. 312-624-9975"Master Chef" judge and Lollapalooza culinary ambassador Graham Elliot puts his own spin on fine dining in the form of 12- and 15-course tasting menus. For a taste of Elliot's fare at a fraction of the price, try his sandwich shop Grahamwich (615 N. State St. 312-265-0434), where lunch options include a decadent grilled cheese made with cheese curds.

Brindille534 N. Clark St. 312-595-1616Award-winning chef Carrie Nahabedian is known for her Mediterranean-inspired fare at Naha (500 N. Clark St. 312-321-6242), but she recently expanded her mini-empire with this sophisticated French restaurant just a few steps north. Indulgent seafood—think lobster, oysters and king crab—and prime cuts of meat combine with seasonal vegetables to create dazzling special-occasion dishes.

Siena Tavern51 W. Kinzie St. 312-595-1322"Top Chef" fan favorite Fabio Viviani was born in Italy and lives in California, but he's spending plenty of time in Chicago lately after partnering with the owners of Bull & Bear and Public House on this Italian-inspired bar and restaurant. Dishes range from crudo (chilled raw seafood) to pizza to lasagna made with his mama's recipe.

After 10 people were shot — seven of them in one incident — overnight in Baltimore following the city's most violent month in decades, police announced Sunday that 10 federal agents will embed with the city's homicide unit for the next two months.